How This Affects The Community
How This Affects The Community
A community park is threatened by exclusive off-road events.Connelly Mill Park: A Community Vision Under Threat
Wicomico County residents have long envisioned Connelly Mill Park as a vibrant, inclusive space for everyone to enjoy. This 234-acre tract of natural beauty was generously donated to the County with the understanding it would become a regional park. This plan was created with the cooperation of the previous Executive, the County Council, the Natural Resource Conservation Advisory Committee (NRCAC), and tax-paying citizens.
However, this vision is now facing a new threat: The administration's proposal to store river dredge spoils on the site.
Why Connelly Mill Park Matters
Connelly Mill Park is not just another property; it is a promise made to the community. It represents:
- Quality of Life: Parks directly improve our physical and mental health. They offer spaces to connect, exercise, and reduce stress.
- Environmental Stewardship: This land sits atop the Paleochannel, a vital water source. Protecting it as a park ensures the safety of our drinking water, whereas putting dredge spoil on it puts it at risk.
- Economic Value: Parks increase surrounding property values and attract visitors.
- Community Unity: A public park is a place where all residents, regardless of income, can come together.
The New Threat: 30+ Years of Dredge from the Wicomico River
As of September 2025, the Administration has proposed using the Connelly Mill Park site as a dumping location for Wicomico River dredge spoils. This proposal contradicts the years of history and original vision and introduces severe negative impacts to the community:
How the Dredge Plan Harms the Community:
- Permanent Loss of Access: The proposal suggests using the site for dredge storage for 30+ years. This effectively steals the park from an entire generation of Wicomico County children.
- Safety & Traffic: The plan requires potentially tens of thousands of heavy truck trips on local roads (Connelly Mill Rd, Riverside Dr, etc) creating safety hazards for residents, cyclists, and other drivers.
- Health & Nuisance: disrupting the peace of the surrounding neighborhoods and risks the region's water supply, the Paleochannel
A History of Disregard
This is not the first time the current administration has ignored the community's will. Previously, the Executive attempted to hand the property over for exclusive, private "Safari at the Quarry" Jeep events without public input. While the MOU for those events has expired, the pattern of behavior—prioritizing special interests and dredge storage over the promises made to the public—remains the central issue.
We Must Act Now
The fight for Connelly Mill Park is a fight for our community's health, environment, and future. We urge the County Council and Executive to:
- Reject the Dredge Plan: Officially remove Connelly Mill Park from consideration as a dredge spoil depository, and cease any feasibility studies.
- Uphold the Master Plan: Restore funding for the park's development to create a space that welcomes all residents for low-impact recreation.
- Protect Our Water: Acknowledge that the Paleochannel is too valuable to risk.